FAQ

Yes, an Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT) can potentially be ignored in some circumstances, usually to the detriment of the best interests of the patient. This largely depends on the validity and applicability of the ADRT, key factors that are central to whether or not the healthcare professionals involved in the person’s care will … Read more

An Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT) is indeed legally binding in England and Wales, as stipulated by the Mental Capacity Act 2005. This means that medical professionals are bound to respect it, provided that it complies with certain conditions. These conditions broadly relate to the clarity of the directions provided, the specificity of the … Read more

ADRT stands for Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment. This is a decision you can make now to refuse a specific type of treatment at some time in the future. It lets your family, carers and health professionals know your wishes about refusing treatment if you’re unable to make or communicate those decisions yourself. For example, … Read more

A Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order is a medically binding note of a patient’s wishes, refusing resuscitation if their heart or breathing stops. In the UK, it’s also known as a DNACPR order (Do Not Attempt Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation). Generally, a DNR is highly respected by medical professionals, and they are instructed to honour it as … Read more

A Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order or a Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) order in the UK is a decision made by a medical professional that instructs the healthcare staff not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if a patient’s heart stops or if they stop breathing. This decision is typically made to avoid causing the … Read more

Medical treatment can be refused in a number of circumstances. This can be done by the person themselves if they have the capacity to do so, or via an Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT), should they lose this capacity. Capacity, in this context, refers to someone’s ability to make a decision for themselves about … Read more

Yes, a person can make a decision in advance to refuse treatment if they should lose capacity in the future. This decision is made via an Advanced Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT). An ADRT is a decision you can make now to refuse a specific type of treatment at some time in the future. It … Read more

An advance statement and an advance decision to refuse treatment (ADRT) are two types of advance care planning documents that are used in the UK. Both documents are intended to articulate a person’s preferences and wishes for future medical treatment, but they are different in their scope and legal status. Firstly, an advance statement is … Read more

Power of Attorney (POA) is a legal tool that allows one person to give another person the authority to make legal and financial decisions on their behalf. There are different types of Power of Attorney; one of the most commonly discussed in the context of dementia is referred to as a Lasting Power of Attorney … Read more

Next of kin and power of attorney are two different roles that play significant parts in a person’s medical decisions and wellbeing. Their rights differ in magnitude and kind based on the legal framework in which they operate. The term “next of kin” is used to identify one’s closest living relative, often a spouse, parent, … Read more

An LPA, or Lasting Powers of Attorney, is a legal document that allows someone (the donor) to appoint one or more people (known as ‘attorneys’) to make decisions on their behalf in case they lose capacity to do so. There are two types of LPA: one for property and financial affairs, and one for health … Read more

An Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT), often known as an Advance Directive, is a decision a person makes in advance to refuse a specific type of medical treatment or care if they later become unable to make decisions for themselves. In the UK, the only person who can make an Advance Decision is the … Read more

An Advance Decision (also known as an Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment, or ADRT) is a legal document where a person specifies what types of medical treatment they would not want to undergo in the future, in case they later become unable to make or communicate decisions for themselves. The key point to consider here … Read more

In the United Kingdom, anyone can act as a witness to an Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT), except the person who stands to benefit from the death of the person making the Advance Decision. It is essential to identify a suitable and qualified witness to provide an independent confirmation of the person’s identity and … Read more

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) and an Advance Decision (also known as an ADRT – Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment) are two distinct legal tools used in the UK to address future health and welfare needs. They are both used to express an individual’s preferences when they may not be able to communicate or … Read more

Best interest decisions often come into play when an individual lacks the capacity to make decisions related to their health and wellbeing, as governed by the Mental Capacity Act 2005 in the UK. In these situations, the responsibility of decision-making may fall on healthcare professionals or appointed decision-makers like a legally appointed welfare attorney or … Read more

The most common type of advance directive is the Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT). An ADRT, also called a Living Will, is a legal document that communicates a person’s wishes about refusing specific types of medical treatment in the future when they may not have the mental capacity to make or communicate their own … Read more

Advance care planning (ACP) is a process that takes place between a person, their care providers, and often their family or loved ones. It involves understanding, reflecting on, deciding and documenting a person’s preferences for future health and personal care. This practice can be used in several situations, although it is particularly applicable to individuals … Read more

Yes, an Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT) is legally binding in the United Kingdom under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. This means that if a person has created an ADRT, health professionals must respect the decisions described within it, provided it meets certain requirements. There are several conditions that an ADRT must meet to … Read more

Yes, you can have a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order in the UK, but the process is slightly different than simply ‘putting it on yourself’. A DNR order is a medical directive that essentially means you do not wish to receive chest compressions, defibrillation, or other advanced cardiac life support if your heart stops or … Read more

An Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT) under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 in the UK can be invalidated on several grounds. To be on the safe side, it is usually a good idea to review ADRTs regularly, especially if one’s medical situation or views change. The advantage of using a service like myADRT is … Read more

An Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT), often referred to as a living will, is a legal document that lets individuals express their wishes not to receive particular forms of medical treatment in certain circumstances, in case they’re unable to make or communicate those decisions in the future themselves. The document speaks for you when … Read more

Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT) is a legally binding document that a person can put in place to refuse specific types of medical treatment in case they become unable to make or communicate their decisions (such as, when they a in a coma, under the effects of powerful medications or seriously ill). ADRT is … Read more

Yes, an Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT) is legally binding in the UK. This means that if healthcare professionals know about it, they must respect it. There are, however, certain requirements that must be fulfilled if the ADRT is to be legally binding. Firstly, the person making the ADRT (the ‘maker’) must be 18 … Read more

An ADRT form, also known as Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment form, is a legal document that allows an individual to clearly document their decision to refuse specific types of medical treatment in the future. This decision can be applicable in certain circumstances when the individual no longer has the capacity to make or communicate … Read more